Pious Women

I was once at the home of Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) when she slaughtered a goat. While I was still at her home, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered with a small stick in his blessed hand.

On entering, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) placed the small stick down and then entered the musjid where he performed two rakaats of salaah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter returned and lay down on his bed, asking ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), “Is there anything to eat?”

There was once a slave girl named Jowharah (rahimahallah) (which means ‘jewel’). She initially belonged to a certain king, but was thereafter freed. After gaining emancipation, she renounced the world, married Abu ‘Abdillah Al-Baraathi (rahimahullah) and dedicated her life to remaining engaged in the ‘ibaadah of Allah Ta‘ala. The following are two incidents which shine in the life of this gleaming jewel:

On one occasion, Jowharah (rahimahallah) asked her husband, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! Will women be adorned with jewellery when they enter Jannah?” When he replied in the affirmative, she suddenly emitted a shriek and collapsed unconscious. When she thereafter recovered and regained her senses, her husband asked her, “What happened?” She replied, “I remembered my previous condition and lifestyle, and all the luxuries of the world that I had acquired. By Allah, I feared that I would be deprived of abundant rewards in the Hereafter!”

On one occasion, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) bought a cushion which was decorated with pictures (of animate objects). When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) later arrived, he saw the cushion from outside the home before he could enter. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus refrained from entering the home and remained standing in the doorway.

When Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) standing in the doorway, and noticed the signs of anger evident on his blessed face, she immediately exclaimed, “I repent to Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)!”

When Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was confronted by the people and accused of being unchaste, she gestured towards Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) who was an infant. As a miracle, Allah Ta‘ala allowed Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) to speak. He thus raised his index finger and addressed the people.

The very first thing that Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) told them was, “I am the slave of Allah Ta‘ala.” In this way, he clearly declared that he was the slave of Allah Ta‘ala and not the son of Allah Ta‘ala. He then told the people that Allah Ta‘ala would reveal a divine kitaab to him and make him a Nabi. By telling the people that he would become the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala, the people understood that his mother was innocent of unchaste behaviour and her name was thus cleared of all accusations.

Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) bore Nabi ‘Isa (‘alaihis salaam) for the normal period of pregnancy. Thereafter, when the labour pains commenced, she went to the jungle, far away from people, to give birth to her child. As it was difficult for her to sit and stand, due to the labour pains, she went to a date palm and used it for support.

This was indeed a great test for Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam). She was all alone with nobody to assist her. She was in pain, she had no food or drink with her, and she anticipated that people would accuse her of being unchaste and committing zina. In this state of desperation, she exclaimed, “If only I had died before this and was totally forgotten!” In order to console her, Allah Ta‘ala sent Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) to her. He stood away from her, on an area that was lower than the place she was standing on and said, “Do not grieve! Allah Ta‘ala has provided a small river below you. And shake the trunk of the date palm, it will drop fresh dates for you.”